Passenger Trains > Two ex-Pacific Parlour cars on the move

DALT 39973, ex-Amtrak 39973 "Santa Lucia Highlands", ex-AMTK 9973, ex-ATSF 578

DALT 39974, ex-Amtrak 39974 "Sonoma Valley", ex-AMTK 9974, ex-ATSF 579

Reported on the move from Beech Grove to Chicago on the morning of 16NOV2020 on Amtrak 51, "Cardinal."

Both cars were sold to Dallas Terminal Railway (John Radovich).



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/17/20 07:41 by GenePoon.

He could darn near put together a complete El Capitan trainset now!

This is interesting.  Is there a public information website that describes the Dallas Terminal Railway and/or John Radovich's collection of cars?  My Google web searches haven't produced a lot of discussions or articles. 

In 2015 the following were in Alamosa

DALT 1461, Express Baggage(?)
DALT 39918 Coach Dorm
DALT 39947 Coach

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3 more

DALT 39949 Coach
DALT 39963 Coach
DALT 39984 Diner Lounge
 

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Hou74-76 Wrote:
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> This is interesting.  Is there a public
> information website that describes the Dallas
> Terminal Railway and/or John Radovich's collection
> of cars?  My Google web searches haven't produced
> a lot of discussions or articles. 

I doubt it.  John R. keeps a pretty low profile. He does have a website but it doesn't have much info.

Maybe he is looking for a supply of stainless steel.

Restore a complete private train - got the coaches, diner, dorm car, lounge car now (the two PPC enroute) - now just need to buy some sort of sleepers since the Hi-Levels didn't come with sleepers! I thought I saw a transition coach, so single level sleepers will work!!!!

John has an ex-VIA sleeper, and also an Amtrak-compliant, ex-Pennsy observation car.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/17/20 23:32 by GenePoon.

jp1822 Wrote:
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> Restore a complete private train - got the
> coaches, diner, dorm car, lounge car now (the two
> PPC enroute) - now just need to buy some sort of
> sleepers since the Hi-Levels didn't come with
> sleepers! I thought I saw a transition coach, so
> single level sleepers will work!!!!

I'm not sure you really need sleepers.  The original El Capitan was an all coach train.  If the plan is to operate all these cars as a train, then you are all set for a single day excursion.  If you somehow were able to do a multi-day trip, there is nothing wrong with stopping for the night and putting people up in hotels.  I am a big fan of preserving and demonstrating the classic sleeping car operation, but that works better on a single car basis rather than as part of an entire restored train.

There is no such thing as a High Level sleeper, although I suppose a Trans-Dorm could suffice.
The VIA Rail sleeper couldn't possibly be HEP'd ?  

joemvcnj Wrote:
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> There is no such thing as a High Level sleeper,
> although I suppose a Trans-Dorm could suffice.
> The VIA Rail sleeper couldn't possibly be HEP'd
> ?  

I am not aware that anyone said there was a Hi-Level sleeper???

Actually the AT&SF dabbled at potentially coming up with a Hi-Level sleeper car, but it never came to be. I had heard though, plans were conceptualized and perhaps even developed..... Not sure how far the blueprints actually went though..... Was it just words or an overall conception? Would have been interesting to see what the AT&SF would have come up with, considering they were the original designers of the successful bi-level equipment that the Superliners are essentially modeled off of!

I hope this gentlemen does put together his own train set of Hi-Level cars - for a day time trip, or the transition coach aligned so perhaps single level sleepers could be attached. After all, the Super Chief and El Capitan were combined in the off season towards the end of their lives!

Warrington wanted Amtrak to operate a luxury cross-country train set. As we all know, various private operators tried (e.g. American Orient Express, GrandLuxe), but failed. This may be a collection of cars that brings joy to a collector on his Short Line of track!

I have seen a set of plans for an ATSF Hi-Level sleeper in a book, but right now can't remember what book.  I saw it in the Glenview IL public library while waiting for (what else?) a late Amtrak train.  The library was just a few blocks from the station.

From what I remember, the design was rather awkward, with rooms nested together and accessed through a single aisle.  There were alternate step-up and step-down rooms.

I couldn't spend a lot of time since the late Amtrak train was a Hiawatha, and I was connecting to the Cardinal.   Didn't want to miss it!   Maybe somebody can remember what book those plans were in.

More Classic Trains.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/18/20 17:55 by SandHouseTalk.

The Arthur Dubin book More Classic Trains has a drawing and floor plan for them on page 489.

GenePoon Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I have seen a set of plans for an ATSF Hi-Level
> sleeper in a book, but right now can't remember
> what book.  I saw it in the Glenview IL public
> library while waiting for (what else?) a late
> Amtrak train.  The library was just a few blocks
> from the station.
>
> From what I remember, the design was rather
> awkward, with rooms nested together and accessed
> through a single aisle.  There were alternate
> step-up and step-down rooms.
>
> I couldn't spend a lot of time since the late
> Amtrak train was a Hiawatha, and I was connecting
> to the Cardinal.   Didn't want to miss it!  
> Maybe somebody can remember what book those plans
> were in.